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COHEN HAILS A NEW TRAINER

Andrew Cohen has appointed Alex Hales to train his young National Hunt horses from his Hertfordshire base.

But the millionaire racehorse owner still intends to continue using other Flat and jumps trainers.

Cohen said today: "I did say when I sold Uplands just over 18 months ago that I would be training some horses from my new home in Hertfordshire. That is the situation.

"The operation started 15 months ago when we started building stables and indoor school and gallops. Alex is due to start with me in the summer and we'll have our first runners in the autumn."

"I still very much intend to keep my horses in training with people around the country. I have got horses with John Hills, Mick Channon, Jamie Osborne and possibly I'll put other horses with other Flat trainers.

"I have no intention whatsoever of having any Flat horses trained at home. I had young jumpers being trained in Ireland and all I want to do is to have them trained at home before I send them to UK trainers.

"So I shall still be using Simon Sherwood and possibly other trainers as well.

"Alex Hales will be training my young horses at home but I will still continue to use many trainers outside.

Hales, 26, is to train 15 young horses at Cohen's Wood Hall Stud in Radlett.

"We will be up and running in the summer and hope to have our first runners come October. I've got to apply for my licence yet," said Hales.

"It's a very very exciting opportunity. We will just start away quietly and see how we get on." Hales learnt his trade as head lad to Charlie Mann and then had two years as assistant to Kim Bailey.

Cohen's ideas is to give his young horses the best possible start.

"I buy a lot of store horses and young horses and I wish to see them brought along under Alex Hales and my guiding eyes to be sure that they get the right start in their career," he said.

"I think it is important when you are training a National Hunt horse that they are not brought along too quickly at a young age. And they don't go into hard fast work too young. so very much the intention to bring them along at the right pace and ensure when they mature then they are pushed.

Cohen added that a decision had yet to be made on the future of his star chaser Suny Bay, who was trained last season by Simon Sherwood.